2017 Impact Fee Update Study

The following documents from the 2017 Transportation Impact Fee study have been posted for public review and inspection in compliance with Texas Local Government Code.

Public commentary on the land use assumption and capital improvement plan associated with the 2017 Transportation Impact Fee will take place during the City Council meeting at 7 p.m. Jan. 9, 2018, at Fort Worth City Hall, 200 Texas Street.

Ordinance Information

Frequently Asked Questions

Will a transportation impact fee apply to my project?

This depends on a number of factors; including the project location, date of final plat approval, date a building permit is requested, land use type, whether or not the development has made a contribution towards the City’s thoroughfare system, and potential qualification for one of three available discounts.

Does all new platting activity trigger an assessment of the transportation impact fee?

No, the ordinance allows amending plats that don’t increase or decrease the original number of lots to be recorded without generating a new final plat approval date. Replats do trigger a new final plat approval date, although the Executive Secretary of the City Plan Commission may exempt certain minor replats, upon request by the developer.”

Can you summarize the steps to determine if a transportation impact fee will apply to my final plat?

Determine your service area by reviewing the service area maps.

Developments located within Service Areas H, I, J, K, P, Q, R, V, and those developments located outside of the corporate boundaries shown on the service area map are exempted from transportation impact fees.

These projects have a one year grace period beginning on June 30, 2008, during which associated building permits are exempted from the transportation impact fee. Any building permit application issued after 6/30/09 will be subject to the transportation impact fee; proceed to Step 3, below.

Recent Projects (Final plat approval between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008). These projects have a two year grace period beginning on the date of final plat approval, during which associated building permits are exempted from the transportation impact fee. Any building permit application issued more than two years from the date of final plat approval will be subject to the transportation impact fee; proceed to Step 3, below.

New and Future Projects (Final plat approval on or after July 1, 2008). All building permits associated with these plats are subject to the transportation fee; proceed to Step 3, below.

Use the Impact Fee Estimator to estimate the impact fee due at the time of building permit issuance. Note that applicable credits or discounts may reduce the impact fee otherwise due. Please see the section on Fee Information for more information on credits and discounts.

When is the impact fee collected?

A transportation impact fee is assessed at the time of final plat approval, but not collected until the time a building permit is issued.

What other documentation is available?

The City is developing additional information to assist in the understanding of the transportation impact fee ordinance. City staff is also available to assist with answering questions regarding specific development projects.

Would a transportation impact fee be a new development fee in addition to existing development fees?

New development currently contributes to the expansion of the arterial network through the Community Facilities Policy. A transportation impact fee policy would represent a significant change to development’s contribution toward arterial expansion, including a new method of calculation, collection, and expenditure, but would not represent a new fee on top of existing development fees.

What improvements would the transportation impact fee fund?

Transportation Impact Fees would be used to recover the costs incurred for the expansion of the transportation network necessary to serve demands generated by new development. Impact fees may not be used to remedy existing transportation deficiencies.

Would existing development projects be exempted from transportation impact fees?

Chapter 395 of the Local Government Code requires that, for those projects whose final plat was recorded prior to the effective date of a new impact fee ordinance, a twelve-month grace period be granted to any associated building permit. Fort Worth’s transportation impact fee ordinance extends the grace period required by law, as detailed below:

Older Projects (Final Plat approval on or before June 30, 2007)

These projects have a one year grace period beginning on June 30, 2008, during which associated building permits are exempted from the transportation impact fee. Any building permit application received after June 30, 2009, will be subject to the transportation impact fee.

Recent Projects (Final plat approval between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008)

These projects have a two year grace period beginning on the date of final plat approval, during which associated building permits are exempted from the transportation impact fee. Any building permit application received more than two years from the date of final plat approval will be subject to the transportation impact fee.

New and Future Projects (Final plat approval on or after 7/1/08)

All building permits associated with these plats are subject to the transportation fee.

Fee Estimator

Enter the plat approval date. If unknown, you can research the plats here.

Enter the appropriate building permit application date.

Enter the appropriate land use(s) from the drop-down list.

The applicable development unit will automatically appear, (for example, the development unit for an office is 1,000 sq ft; 2,500 sq ft office would be 2,500/1,000 = 2.5 development units; for a residential development, it is the number of dwelling units).

Enter the number of development units for each land use.

Enter credit / discount amounts, if known.

The program will calculate the project’s estimated transportation impact fee.

Contact

Accommodations & Accessibility

Accommodations are available for residents who have accessibility requirements. To learn more about accessibility accommodations available from the City of Fort Worth, visit the Accessibility page or request an accommodation due to disability.